animal-research-and-mad-eco-t

Animal Research, and mad Eco-Terrorists

As I mentioned before, there was a march in Oxford over the weekend supporting the building of a new animal testing facility there. It attracted 700 people, versus the 200 people involved in a SPEAK (anti-testing group) march at the same time. The founder of Pro-Test, the pro-testing group, is 16year-old Laurie Pycroft. Amazing work, all things considered. It's good to see somebody standing up to these "animal liberation" groups; groups who think nothing of threatening violence and who reportedly labelled Oxford University staff and students as "legitimate targets". The rights and wrongs of their cause aside, they do tend to behave like a disreputable terrorist group; the wording of their press releases and so forth always reminds me of those of the IRA (explanation for foreigners: the IRA are the terrorist wing of Nationalist party Sinn Fein).

When Laurie announced his intention to hold the march, he was warned by police that he was putting himself in danger. This is what it's come to; supporting animal testing is on the same level of "crazy people will attack you" as drawing Muhammad cartoons. Greenpeace hissy-fits pale in comparison. It's about time people started standing up to this sort of thing. Violence and threats of violence should never be allowed to infringe on free speech.

By the way, animal liberation people, please refrain from blowing up Telehouse London. I am merely expressing an opinion.